Image:AzI Final.pdb

AzI_Final.pdb


Antizyme inhibitor (AzI) regulates cellular polyamine homeostasis by binding to the polyamine-induced protein, Antizyme (Az), with greater affinity than ODC. AzI is highly homologous to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), but is not enzymatically active. In order to understand these specific characteristics of AzI and its differences from ODC, we determined the 3D structure of mouse AzI to 2.05Å resolution. Both AzI and ODC crystallize as a dimer. However, fewer interactions at the dimer interface, a smaller buried surface area, and lack of symmetry of the interactions between residues from the two monomers in the AzI structure suggest that this dimeric structure is non-physiological. In addition, the absence of residues and interactions required for PLP binding suggest that AzI does not bind PLP. Biochemical studies confirmed the lack of PLP binding and revealed that AzI exists as a monomer in solution while ODC is dimeric. Our findings that AzI exists as a monomer and its inability to bind PLP provide two independent explanations for its lack of enzymatic activity, and suggest the basis for its enhanced affinity towards Az.